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S.C. Saltwater Fishing Trends - 11/10/2008
November 10, 2008
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com
. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Spottail bass: Very good. Very large red drum are available at the Little River jetties, but a series of windy fronts have kept many inshore anglers from going after them. Fish the incoming tide with large chunks of cut bait, or live mullet and menhaden. In the creeks and estuaries puppy drum are prolific right now; fish the main channel of the salt marsh with cut shrimp.
- Black Drum: Very good. Cut shrimp are productive in the Dunn Sound area, and black drum are plentiful in the 15 to 18 inch range.
- Trout: Slow. Little trout action has been reported, but things should be improving as the water temperature drops. Try live shrimp under a popping cork against grass, or Gulp shrimp imitations.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Overall the bite has slowed down as the first wave of the spot run has passed. Pompano, including some very nice fish in the 1.5 to 2 pound range, are being caught, and snapper bluefish continue to be common.
- Spot: Excellent. Spot have flooded into Murrells Inlet for the first time in three years, and boats are so thick you can almost walk across the water. Fish cut shrimp or blood worms on small hooks and look for the crowds.
- Black Drum: Very good. Large numbers of black drum are being caught around jetties, piers, and sea walls, with lots of 14 to 27 inch eating size fish. These can be caught on cut, whole dead, or live shrimp, as well as on crabs (effective for trying to avoid pinfish bites).
- Sheepshead: Very good. Pressure on sheepshead is very light, but anglers targeting them at the Murrells Inlet jetties are still doing very well. Fish fiddler crabs vertically on a Carolina rig.
- Spottail Bass: Good to very good. The very largest drum have arrived at the jetties and can be caught using cut mullet or menhaden, and slot sized fish are being caught in the creeks. Use live bait beneath a popping float, or Gulp grubs, in the creeks.
- Trout: Good. Trout action is strong in the creeks behind Pawley’s Island. Fish live shrimp or Gulp imitations. Flounder: Good. Flounder fishing has dramatically improved since a month ago, although smaller fish are still making up the largest part of the catch. The large flounder should turn on very soon and feed voraciously until the middle of November when cold temperatures will push them out of the creeks and inlets.
- Surf and Pier Report: The Spanish mackerel run has tailed off, but a very good run of spot is underway and schools are slowly making their way down the coast. For a few days anglers were shoulder to shoulder on the Garden City Pier catching spot by the buckets, but those fish have moved on. Black drum are prolific off the piers, and whiting and snapper sized bluefish are still abundant. Pompano are being caught in good numbers, too, and seem to be grouped in schools that are very small or very large (1 to 2 pound) for pompano. The Second Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach reports summer trout (weakfish) being caught in good numbers, and winter trout (spotted sea trout) are occasionally being caught off most Grand Strand Piers. Winter trout fishing will improve as temperatures continue to moderate.
- Trout: Excellent. Fantastic trout catches are being reported in the North Edisto River, Wando River, and ICW north of Charleston. Target shell banks in 3-7 feet of water on moving tides, and particularly the incoming tide. DOA shrimp, Gulp Jerk Shads, and Z-Man Chatter Baits and Chatter Shrimp have all been effective, and live shrimp fished below a popping cork will of course work too. Troll or fan cast with lures to locate fish and then work the area thoroughly.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Small redfish in the 15 to 20 inch range are prolific in the creeks right now, particularly around docks, oyster bars, and rockpiles. Fish live shrimp under a popping cork, or cast artificial grubs or plugs, for these fish. Large breeder sized red drum are being caught in the surf, particularly in the inlets north of Charleston and in Bulls Bay.
- Sheepshead: Good. Sheepshead fishing continues to be productive at the jetties and against inshore structure. For now fiddler crabs are the bait of choice, but as these crabs go into hibernation live shrimp will become an effective bait.
- Folly Beach Pier: Fishing should improve in the next few weeks, but for now the main catch is small whiting, small black drum, and snapper bluefish.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Big red drum are on the verge of getting really hot, and as soon as the huge tailing tides are over the bull drum will be thick out in the Port Royal Sound over live bottom areas. Small redfish about 14 or 15 inches long are abundant in the feeder creeks when water drains out of the grass, and they can be caught on live shrimp or mullet as well as Gulp shrimp and minnows. Tailing action is also very good.
- Trout: Good. Lots of small trout are being caught with live shrimp fish against the grass, and some better fish are mixed in, too. Fish two hours each side of high tide; when the really high tides pass and the water clears up fishing will get even better.
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S.C. Saltwater Fishing Trends - 11/3/2008
November 3, 2008
Little River - Grand Strand - Charleston - Hilton Head - Tides - S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Spottail bass: Very good. Very large red drum are available at the Little River jetties, but a series of windy fronts have kept many inshore anglers from going after them. Fish the incoming tide with large chunks of cut bait, or live mullet and menhaden.
- Black Drum: Very good. Cut shrimp are productive in the Dunn Sound area, and black drum are plentiful in the 15 to 18 inch range.
- Trout: Slow. Try live shrimp under a popping cork against grass, or Gulp shrimp imitations.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Pompano, including some very nice fish in the 1.5 to 2 pound range, are being caught, and snapper bluefish continue to be common. No king mackerel have been caught in the last week despite October being a traditionally strong month for kings.
- Spot: Excellent. Spot have flooded into Murrells Inlet for the first time in three years. Fish cut shrimp or blood worms on small hooks and look for the crowds.
- Black Drum: Very good. Large numbers of black drum are being caught around jetties, piers, and sea walls, with lots of 14 to 27 inch eating size fish. These can be caught on cut, whole dead, or live shrimp, as well as on crabs.
- Sheepshead: Very good. Pressure on sheepshead is very light, but anglers targeting them at the Murrells Inlet jetties are still doing very well. Fish fiddler crabs vertically on a Carolina rig.
- Spottail Bass: Good to very good. The very largest drum have arrived at the jetties and can be caught using cut mullet or menhaden, and slot sized fish are being caught in the creeks.
- Trout: Good. Trout action is strong in the creeks behind Pawley’s Island. Fish live shrimp or Gulp imitations.
- Flounder: Good. The large flounder should turn on very soon and feed voraciously until the middle of November when cold temperatures will push them out of the creeks and inlets.
- Surf and Pier Report: The Spanish mackerel run has tailed off, but a very good run of spot is underway and schools are slowly making their way down the coast. Black drum are prolific off the piers, and whiting and snapper sized bluefish are still abundant. Pompano are being caught in good numbers, too, and seem to be grouped in schools that are very small or very large (1 to 2 pound) for pompano. The Second Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach reports summer trout (weakfish) being caught in good numbers, and winter trout (spotted sea trout) are occasionally being caught off most Grand Strand Piers.
- Trout: Excellent. Fantastic trout catches are being reported in the North Edisto River, Wando River, and ICW north of Charleston. Target shell banks in 3-7 feet of water on moving tides, and particularly the incoming tide. DOA shrimp, Gulp Jerk Shads, and Z-Man Chatter Baits and Chatter Shrimp have all been effective, and live shrimp fished below a popping cork will of course work too.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Small redfish in the 15 to 20 inch range are prolific in the creeks right now, particularly around docks, oyster bars, and rockpiles. Fish live shrimp under a popping cork, or cast artificial grubs or plugs, for these fish.
- Sheepshead: Good. Sheepshead fishing continues to be productive at the jetties and against inshore structure. For now fiddler crabs are the bait of choice, but as these crabs go into hibernation live shrimp will become an effective bait.
- Folly Beach Pier: Fishing should improve in the next few weeks, but for now the main catch is small whiting, small black drum, and snapper bluefish.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Red drum are on the verge of getting really hot, and as soon as the huge tailing tides are over the bull drum will be thick out in the Port Royal Sound over live bottom areas. Small redfish about 14 or 15 inches long are abundant in the feeder creeks when water drains out of the grass, and they can be caught on live shrimp or mullet as well as Gulp shrimp and minnows.
- Trout: Good. Lots of small trout are being caught with live shrimp fish against the grass, and some better fish are mixed in, too. Fish two hours each side of high tide; when the really high tides pass and the water clears up fishing will get even better.
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South Carolina Weekly Saltwater Fishing Report - 10/27/2008
October 27, 2008
Little River - Grand Strand - Charleston - Hilton Head - Tides - S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Spottail bass: Very good. Very large red drum are available at the Little River jetties, but a series of windy fronts have kept many inshore anglers from going after them. Fish the incoming tide with large chunks of cut bait, or live mullet and menhaden.
- Black Drum: Very good. Cut shrimp are productive in the Dunn Sound area, and black drum are plentiful in the 15 to 18 inch range.
- Trout: Slow. Try live shrimp under a popping cork against grass, or Gulp shrimp imitations.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Overall the bite has slowed down as the first wave of the spot run has passed. Pompano, including some very nice fish in the 1.5 to 2 pound range, are being caught, and snapper bluefish continue to be common.
- Black Drum: Excellent. Lots of 14 to 27 inch eating size fish. These can be caught on cut, whole dead, or live shrimp, as well as on crabs (effective for trying to avoid pinfish bites).
- Trout: Very good. The trout action down around the Georgetown area has been outstanding, particularly around shell banks. The bite around the jetties is a bit slower than expected, although it should pick up throughout the fall and winter. Gulp! soft plastics and live shrimp have both been very effective.
- Bluefish: Very good. Bluefish are being caught right off the beaches and piers on cut bait or shiny lures.
- Flounder: Good. The large flounder should turn on and feed voraciously, in preparation for moving offshore, from about the middle of October until the middle of November when cold temperatures will push them out of the creeks and inlets.
- Spottail Bass: Good. The very largest drum have not yet arrived at the jetties, but puppy drum are prolific off the beach and slot sized fish are being caught in the creeks. Use live bait beneath a popping float, or Gulp grubs, in the creeks.
- Pier Report: The Spanish mackerel run has tailed off, but a very good run of spot is underway and schools are slowly making their way down the coast. Black drum are also prolific off the piers, and whiting and snapper sized bluefish are still abundant. Pompano are being caught in good numbers, too. The Second Avenue Pier in Myrtle Beach reports summer trout (weakfish) being caught in good numbers, and winter trout (spotted sea trout) are occasionally being caught off most Grand Strand Piers.
- Trout: Very good. Best trout fishing is coming using live or DOA shrimp under a rattling float against grass and around creek mouths on moving tides; also look for oyster beds and fan cast around them. Slow trolling along shorelines is also productive. Fishing around lighted docks at night is also very productive.
- Spottail Bass: Good. Small redfish in the 15 to 20 inch range are prolific in the creeks right now, particularly around docks, oyster bars, and rockpiles. Fish live shrimp under a popping cork for these fish. Large spottails in the 22 to 32 inch range have been widely reported tailing on high tides.
- Sheepshead: Good. Sheepshead fishing is very strong against pilings and jetties using fiddler crabs.
- Flounder: Fair. Most fish are being caught on live mud minnows or finger mullet fished around jetties and around feeder creek mouths, and some are being caught against shellbanks.
- Folly Beach Pier: The main catch is small whiting, small black drum, and snapper bluefish.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Red drum in the rivers are the hot bite. Fish around the edges of the main river channels, including very close to the boat landings, using live or cut mullet or live menhaden if you can get them. The bite will continue into December but as the season progresses fish will move further out into the sound.
- Trout: Good. Nice trout are being caught floating live shrimp under rattling floats around grass, and also casting soft plastics around oyster beds. Fish moving tides.
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South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 9/29/2008
September 29, 2008
Little River - Grand Strand - Charleston - Hilton Head - Tides - S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Bluefish: Good to very good. Bluefish around the jetties. These fish are concentrating on schools of mullet; dead finger mullet, cut bait, or shiny lures.
- Spanish mackerel: Good. Spanish mackerel around the jetties. Throw Gotcha Plugs, Hopkins Spoons, or live mullet under a float to hook up.
- Spottail bass: Fair. Fish live shrimp or minnows in the creeks beneath a popping cork.
- Flounder: Slow. Use a standard Carolina rig with a live mullet and the lightest possible weight to hold the bottom. Look for fishing to improve in the next few weeks.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Bluefish action has been very good. A few king mackerel have been caught, for the first time in a few months, and a few black drum and flounder are still being picked up.
- Bluefish: Very good. Large schools are running in the surf, and can also be caught in good numbers around the jetties. Use dead finger mullet fished on the bottom.
- Sheepshead: Good. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing.
- Spottail Bass: Fair. At the jetties on most any live bait - mullet, mud minnows, or shrimp.
- Flounder: Slow. Carolina rigged mullet or mud minnows in the Murrell’s Inlet area.
- Springmaid Pier: Slow. A few bluefish, pompano, and whiting are being caught.
- Second Avenue Pier: A few puppy drum, flounder, sheepshead, and Spanish have been caught, as well as some whiting and pompano.
- Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Slow, but whiting, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and very occasional pompano are being caught sporadically.
- Apache Pier: A few very large Spanish have been caught in the last week, and mullet schools are running. Bluefish, spot, and whiting are all around.
- Surfside Pier: Slow, but a few Spanish mackerel and some bluefish are being caught.
- Garden City Pier: A few bluefish, whiting and pompano are being caught.
- Tarpon: Very good. Fish the jetties, the north end of Bulls Bay, Stono Inlet and around the north of Edisto Inlet. Fish large live mullet, blue crabs, or menhaden in 6 to 15 foot deep slews between the sandbars.
- Trout: Good. Very early in the day topwater action is hot for spotted sea trout.
- Sheepshead: Good. Most any structure, from nearshore wrecks to the jetties to inshore piers and bridges. Fish fiddler crabs, clam pieces, or cut shrimp.
- Spottail Bass: Fair. Use live or cut bait and Gulp! shrimp or jerkshad around older docks with heavy barnacle growth on the pilings and especially those with deep holes underneath.
- Folly Beach Pier: A few trout, black drum, whiting, and pompano were all caught but everything was on the small side.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Look for productive fishing in the evenings later this week and over the weekend.
- Trout: Good. Early morning topwater action is very good, and some big trout are being caught on lures such as Spooks. Good fishing is coming under docks or on the outgoing tide where feeder creeks are emptying into bigger water. Shrimp and mud minnows fished under Cajun Thunder rattling bobbers, or Gulp grubs, are producing.
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South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 9/22/2008
September 22, 2008
Little River - Grand Strand - Charleston - Hilton Head - Tides - S.C. marine recreational fishing regulations (PDF file). Saltwater Fishing License site.
Fishing trends courtesy www.SCFishingReport.com. Check the site for recent updates and detailed reports.
- Bluefish: Good to very good. The hottest action right now is for 12 to 18 inch bluefish, which are prolific around the jetties.
- Spanish mackerel: Good. Around the jetties good Spanish mackerel continue to be caught, although action has slowed down from earlier this summer. Throw Gotcha Plugs, Hopkins Spoons, or live mullet under a float to hook up.
- Spottail bass: Fair. Fish live shrimp or minnows in the creeks beneath a popping cork.
- Flounder: Slow. The water has gotten hot, and the flounder bite has really slowed down. Target the incoming tide around creek mouths, and look for areas that have lots of surface current movement which indicates highly oxygenated water.
- Cherry Grove Pier: Bluefish action has been very good for the last week and is keeping pier anglers happy; schools of mullet are in the water and fish are keying on these. A few king mackerel have been caught, for the first time in a few months, and a few black drum and flounder are still being picked up.
- Bluefish: Very good. Large schools of 12 to 18 inch bluefish are running in the surf, and can also be caught in good numbers around the jetties. Use dead finger mullet fished on the bottom.
- Sheepshead: Good. Large numbers of sheepshead continue to be caught at the Murrells Inlet and Georgetown jetties. Fiddler crabs and live or cut shrimp on a Carolina rig fished vertically are producing.
- Spottail Bass: Fair. Slot and on up sized drum are being caught at the jetties on most any live bait - mullet, mud minnows, or shrimp; fish the incoming tide right after the tide turns against the North Jetty walls.
- Flounder: Slow. Try Carolina rigged mullet or mud minnows in the Murrell’s Inlet area.
- Springmaid Pier: A few bluefish, pompano, and whiting are being caught.
- Second Avenue Pier: A few puppy drum, flounder, sheepshead, and Spanish have been caught, as well as some whiting and pompano.
- Myrtle Beach State Park Pier: Fishing has been very slow, but whiting, bluefish, Spanish mackerel, and very occasional pompano are being caught sporadically.
- Apache Pier: A few very large Spanish have been caught in the last week, and mullet schools are running. Bluefish, spot, and whiting are all around, but no flounder have been caught recently.
- Surfside Pier: Overall conditions have been slow, but a few Spanish mackerel and some bluefish are being caught. Occasional flounder are also being picked up.
- Garden City Pier: Water temperatures are still warm at about 86 degrees, and fishing slowed with the storms last week. A few bluefish, whiting and pompano are being caught.
- Flounder: Good. Most fish are being caught on live mud minnows or finger mullet fished under piers and around feeder creek mouths and some are being caught against shellbanks.
- Trout: Good. Best trout fishing is coming using live or DOA shrimp under a rattling float against grass and around creek mouths on moving tides; look for oyster beds.
- Spottail Bass: Fair to good. Spottail bass continue to be in a summer pattern, scattered throughout the creeks and estuaries. Use live or cut bait and Gulp! shrimp around docks with heavy barnacle growth on the pilings and especially those with deep holes underneath.
- Tarpon: Fair. Tarpon reports continue to come in from the north end of Bulls Bay, Stono Inlet and around the north of Edisto Inlet. Fish large live mullet, blue crabs, or menhaden in 6 to 15 foot deep slews between the sandbars.
- Folly Beach Pier: Fishing is slow, and only occasional whiting and small black drum are being reported.
- Spottail Bass: Very good. Tailing action around high tide continues to be strong; look for productive fishing on tailing tides over the next couple of weeks.
- Trout: Good. Early morning topwater action is still good, and some big trout are being caught on lures such as Spooks. Good fishing is coming under docks or on the outgoing tide where feeder creeks are emptying into bigger water. Shrimp and mud minnows fished under Cajun Thunder rattling bobbers, or Gulp grubs, are producing.
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South Carolina Saltwater Fishing Trends - 9/15/2008
September 15, 2008
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South Carolina Weekly Saltwater Fishing Trends - 8/25/2008
August 25, 2008
